The bark of the cinchona tree as a remedy for fever and chills had been known by Europeans since the 17th century and was brought from Peru to Europe by the Jesuits (hence the name "Peruvian" or "Jesuit's bark").

Hippocrates found that leaves from the willow plant could reduce headache and muscle pain, which led to the discovery of aspirin, quinine to treat malaria came from the bark of the cinchona tree, and a tea brewed from the fox glove plant relieved dropsy because it contained digitalis.

In a section on disease, Taylor reveals the truly global links between the forests of Peru-- where the bark of the cinchona tree provided scientists with quinine and protection against malaria--and the story of two Netherlands Indies scientists smuggling the protected cinchona seeds out of Peru.

According to sources McLaren, Peru's Environment Minister Antonio Brack has announced he will honour the 'Hey Jude' hitmaker's green campaigning by awarding him the highly respected Order of the Cinchona Tree ahead of the gig.

These include quinine, an extract of the cinchona tree used to treat malaria and arthritis; turbocuarine from the curare liana vine, given to patients as a muscle relaxant during surgery; and taxol from the yew tree for treating breast and ovarian cancer.

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